Huntington Dawn Patrol

Hit Huntington this morning since we are all crashing at my parents until tuesday. Works out fantastic for me with a short commute to work and Huntington so close. Alarm buzzed and I popped out of bed energized after a short 5 hours of sleep, but I was really excited to hit the trails. My buddy Bentley joined me and we were off to the park. As I pulled in the sun slowly rose as a glowing fireball coming through the trees. I was really happy to be riding this morning and it felt good starting my day off on the right foot. We tore down the trail and kept on the gravel and then hopped on some dirt and got cranking around the lake, then onto the familiar trail that I use to ride way back when all the time. It then spit me out onto the gravel road again and then to an intersection where I took a right onto blue and headed down hill and then found some used single track on my left and got climbing into a scenic overlook. Had a decent view of some of the nearby hills, not much of a lookout since it did not have much elevation but was still a nice sight. I then shot down the hill and continued back to the intersection and headed onto it, this was a great trail and I can tell a frequented bike trail. It had quite a few tech sections and some good quick climbs but nothing very long. This trail was pretty long and took me a little while to complete as it twisted back and forth making it way to the pond. Eventually I hit a chimney and shot down onto gravel road. Then I made my way north on another carriage path which was blue I believe and shot down the hill and back up a grueling rock garden. I contemplated my decision but kept with it cause I knew where I was at the moment. Top of that and things began to open up and got some quick smooth downhill action that was very welcomed. Back up and onto a really really fun trail that eventually ends in the parking lot and then made my way over to spin city and up to the car. I love this place! It is such a great place to ride, I can't get enough of it, this wednesday after work I shall be going back if the weather holds up.

Huntington dawn patrol

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Nathan Hale Big Grouper

Thursday night ride was on and Nathan Hale was the victim and 5:45 was the ride time, I arrived 5 minutes before the ride and pulled into the lot and saw a huge crowd of bikers I didn't think it was our group but I did notice John so I parked next to the line of cars. I was the last one to be there it seemed, there were already 12-13 people and lots of new faces. Got geared up and got the dog out and waited as one more was expected to arrive. Soon enough we all pedaled into the woods in a long line and Bentley at my side. I was riding smack in the middle of our pack and it didn't take long and I lost Bentley to the rider behind me, he is very good at yielding, perhaps too good. I was constantly waiting up for the big guy as he fell behind no matter what I tried. It was a huge group and it was working the both of us. Normally were with a group of 4 or 5 and I hang in back to keep us organized. It wasn't long and a few people peeled off the group but still leaving us 10 or so deep. Still making it tricky for me and Bentley. we got 90% done and got to the awful rocky trail and I had had enough and set off on a solo mission with just me and my pooch. We got a little crazy on some fire roads and then shot across the street to ride a new trail someone built. It was very very fresh and hard to follow but in no time I am sure it will be buff. I then found my way back to the lot where I met up with the remaining fellas and hung out for a little while. Good ride and still had lots of energy to burn and wanted more but darkness was coming.

No pics this ride......
Enjoy VT

Hale big grouper

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Dewey Moist Early Riser At West Rock

Man I sure have been slacking on my trip reports, the new job has really sucked up a lot of my time during the week with the commute and all sorts of other stuff. Luckily I still have been riding a happy minimum 3 days a week which I can live with. This was my 2nd early morning ride this week. A truly dedicated rider, I have yet to come across a biker at West Rock yet, I guess I am the only nut out there. I do however come across fishermen and hikers which is good to know someone else is out there cause this mornings ride was a bit spooky. I arrived at 6:15 promptly and got to it, I decided to do a counter clockwise loop touching some trails I have and some I have not. I headed out on red pedaling fast since it was so smooth and this is where I got creeped out, it was good to spot the sign the sun was rising here and there to help break the ice. I got into the single track section on red and was getting slapped left and right with nice cold wet leaves, it felt great! Another spooky thing was the trees would shake above me for no apparent reason from who knows but it would rain on me which was very strange. I was quick through that section and then finally got climbing, a bit much was walked but some sections I thought not able were conquered. up to the beat up paved road on the ridge and into the mist. This was another cool weather feature I had going on this morning. Out of the mist and hit yellow which I had a feeling wasn't going to lead to anything great which it didn't but it was a great downhill trail. It shot me out on the road where I rode back to red and onto yellow and then hiked up a very difficult purple which was only half ridable, I certainly don't recommend going up purple......back up on the ridge and onto blue then green and then hoped to find a good downhill trail on the south end of the park but I was short on time and took a trail that lead on and off the road. It was ok but I know there is much better. Made my way to red again and around the lake and off to work. These morning rides are tough and lonely but they sure get the job done!

West Rock Dawn Patrol

Finally getting to learn my way around this gem of a park. I decided today would be the day that I put together a loop around the park, little did I know how much hike a bike I would be doing on the southern end of red trail but anytime spent on the dirt is a good time for me. I cranked off on another early morning ride and got a start on the trail just after 6am. It was overcast mostly with hints of blue and maybe sun but it never did show. That was fine since the temperature was pleasant after that heat wave from last week. I headed south on the red trail and hit the end of the park and then the red trail literally rocketed into the sky, it was alot of hike a bike but it was working me out and the views were beautiful despite a junky looking hamden CT..... It took awhile but I did reach the stop where a viewing parking lot is located to give you about 180 degree view to the south. This rock is a pretty neat place being that it's a pretty sharp elevated spine rising just a few miles off the coast. It was a different sight to see the ocean but it was cool and was a welcomed change of scenery. Ok enough viewing that stuff I pedaled some pavement and onto blue hesitantly, which I soon ended up walking some of it was ridable so I proceeded to do so. Once that was over I was sent back to the road where I caught the green trail, pretty uneventful and shooting me back onto pavement. This place has lots of pavement between trails if you like to make it up to the top and make a loop but to me it's actually kind of nice. Rode way down to the end of the park and while I rode on the beat up closed paved road, I enjoyed a few glimpses to the East and West from a good elevation. Once I got about to the end I caught blue and descended back onto the red trail for some mellow single track enjoyment back to the car. Fricken sweet ride, getting to learn these trails little by little, there is not a big maze but it still has some exploring to do for sure.
Now for wednesday:)

Westy ro ky dawn patrol

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